Do both! For both yoga and pilates, it varies a lot a lot with the instructor. Some pilates classes even incorporate some yoga into it, and this is best. But essentially pilates builds strength, especially core strength and yoga is more focused on flexibility. I think you should do both, with more pilates than yoga, at least in the beginning. Pilates was actually designed as an exercise for injuries, so it's very safe.

With yoga, you're more likely to get hurt. You have to have a good instructor and I believe that you have to have some amount of flexibility to get benefit out of yoga. Once you have some minimum flexibility, yoga is fantastic for increasing it. So my advice is to start with pilates and as you improve on flexibility introduce a little yoga here and where. Eventually, it could be 50/50.

If you can take pilates on a reformer... (group classes of 6 or so are awesome and much cheaper than private!) It's AMAZING... I like it way more than yoga... but would also take yoga... I prefer Venyassa. And yes it does strengthen your core... but as you progress... the stretching is WAY better IMHO than yoga... mostly 'cause I like the use of the reformer to really get into some amazing stretch positions... that require a lot of strength to get out of... If I could afford a group class right now... I'd drop my gym membership in a heartbeat!

I like Yoga, I just wish Pilates reformer classes weren't so friggin expensive

The only type of yoga i tried was hot yoga (so it turned me off big time for yoga LOL). Though i would love to get into pilates, but my GOD it's so expensive. What's up with that anyways? I almost am tempted to go learn to do it so i can do private lessons at 85 dollars an hour lol. I'd be rich!!

I would not judge Yoga by taking Hot Yoga or Bikram... the heat can make you really sick if you're not used to it...Also, a crappy teacher can make for a bad experience. I recommend taking it a few times from different people before you decide.

Regarding Pilates... Look for group reformer lessons... They are WAY cheaper than private... usually $10-15/class. You buy a series... That's the way I took my class... it was great... just usually about 6 people... I found a great teacher at my old gym... plus once you were approved to work on the reformer a lone you had permission to use the room by yourself... Look around...

The only thing that shocks me about pilates is that you don't burn that many calories. I usually will play squash or do spinning which burns 600-900 calories in an hour...and pilates you barely burn anything. I am just curious how it gives you great results?

Well... it's kind of like weight lifting.... You don't burn a ton of calories doing that. You build muscle.... but when you're working a really good program with constant movement... you will burn... It's kind of like ballet. You can do a 45 minute bar before you even get into center floor work... and you're dripping wet from the workout... and you will rarely meet a fat dancer (well a serious one anyway...)

Both Yoga and Pilates are really nice but different (and different groups teach each differently). You do not need to spend a lot. I go to classes at lunchtime at a local college. The classes are good and cost $40/session (9-10 classes). I actually take two different classes per week the second they charge $25/per session.

Yoga is relaxing and strengthening (but at times you still do build up a sweat). I find Pilates pretty active. Some of the moves involve elbow to knees for 50-100 times or beating your arms 100 times (this is not trivial!). I think it works better than aerobics for trimming because you learn how to work various muscle groups agains each other (to support or counter balance ech other).This principal is used in Yoga too. ANyway I've had great success with waist-line trimming doing these classes and I haven't had that from pretty intensive stepper machine sessions.

PS: I think that Pilates can be learned and practiced successfully using videos. Yoga, however, must only be undertaken with a good teacher because some of the positions can be harmful if you are not lined up correctly and working the correct muscles.

I somewhat agree with Sharky... if you're coordinated you can probably learn from a video. If you're not... you need a teacher for either. Having taken pilates on a reformer in a group I watched some people REALLY struggle with the concepts presented. They NEVER would have gotten it from a video. Maybe matt style classes... regardless... if form is important as it is to both forms of exercise.... you should get a teacher for at least an introduction... that's my 2cents...

I somewhat agree with Sharky... if you're coordinated you can probably learn from a video. If you're not... you need a teacher for either. Having taken pilates on a reformer in a group I watched some people REALLY struggle with the concepts presented. They NEVER would have gotten it from a video. Maybe matt style classes... regardless... if form is important as it is to both forms of exercise.... you should get a teacher for at least an introduction... that's my 2cents...

As someone who owns a Pilates studio, I, of course have to disagree but then I see the trainwrecks of the self taught. In 12 years Ive not once seen someone who taught themselves the basics of the method correctly.
Sounds like you enjoy non traditional fitness classes. They can work wonders. FYI, vinyasa is the correct spelling.

Do both! For both yoga and pilates, it varies a lot a lot with the instructor. Some pilates classes even incorporate some yoga into it, and this is best. But essentially pilates builds strength, especially core strength and yoga is more focused on flexibility. I think you should do both, with more pilates than yoga, at least in the beginning. Pilates was actually designed as an exercise for injuries, so it's very safe.

With yoga, you're more likely to get hurt. You have to have a good instructor and I believe that you have to have some amount of flexibility to get benefit out of yoga. Once you have some minimum flexibility, yoga is fantastic for increasing it. So my advice is to start with pilates and as you improve on flexibility introduce a little yoga here and where. Eventually, it could be 50/50.

Actually, yoga can be very strengthening, as well as increasing flexibilty. You don't have to be naturally flexible to do yoga-- as long as you know your limits and know your body, your flexibility can increase dramactically with regular practice.

I have learned yoga from practicing it on my own as there are no yoga studios close enough for me to visit regularly. I have never hurt myself. So if someone is interested in doing yoga, but is apprehensive about going to a studio or doesn't have one near by, I'd recommend the Marlon Braccia yoga series. Very easy to follow, and easy to learn.

Bluesheart... How wonderful to own the studio... Yes, I do prefer a class of yoga or pilates to many other things... I prefer the type of class that brings you into yourself. Where you can't focus on anything else.It's easy to let the brain wander around while on a treadmill, or lifting weights.

With regards to videos... well, it depends really on your existing training. Don't you think? Personally, I like to have a very well trained person watching form and making correction. I think that comes from a dance background... and having a solid comprehension of what "good form" means.

I'm not saying do one and not the other-- videos or classes. My point was, if you can't go to classes (like if you do not have time to drive 45 min to a yoga studio 2-3 times a week) videos are a good option. It's better than doing nothing at all.

I'm definitely not arguing that yoga isn't strengthing. I just said that yoga in comparison with pilates, yoga is more focused on flexibility. But of course pilates isn't exlusively about strength, just as yoga isn't exclusively about flexibility.

As long as you know your body and know your limits- I just don't think that everyone would be able to do that. That most beginners will be able to just know what their limits in yoga are and how to practice yoga safely and be able adapt the poses to a beginner's capabilities without the benefit of a good (live) instructor that can correct him/her... Hey, not even all live instructors can do that.

I've even had one instructor misinterpret my flexibility in some of the poses (from dancing) to mean that I was more experienced in yoga than I really was and encourage me into a pose I was not ready for. Just because I was able to physically get into that position (with his help) doesn't mean I was ready for it. He was relatively inexperienced for a yoga instructor.

ETA: If you can't make it to a yoga studio of course videos are great. But it would probably good to just take one or two classes just to make sure that you're doing the poses correctly. And then practice away on your own

violetanne wrote:

Nimue wrote:

Do both! For both yoga and pilates, it varies a lot a lot with the instructor. Some pilates classes even incorporate some yoga into it, and this is best. But essentially pilates builds strength, especially core strength and yoga is more focused on flexibility. I think you should do both, with more pilates than yoga, at least in the beginning. Pilates was actually designed as an exercise for injuries, so it's very safe.

With yoga, you're more likely to get hurt. You have to have a good instructor and I believe that you have to have some amount of flexibility to get benefit out of yoga. Once you have some minimum flexibility, yoga is fantastic for increasing it. So my advice is to start with pilates and as you improve on flexibility introduce a little yoga here and where. Eventually, it could be 50/50.

Actually, yoga can be very strengthening, as well as increasing flexibilty. You don't have to be naturally flexible to do yoga-- as long as you know your limits and know your body, your flexibility can increase dramactically with regular practice.

I have learned yoga from practicing it on my own as there are no yoga studios close enough for me to visit regularly. I have never hurt myself. So if someone is interested in doing yoga, but is apprehensive about going to a studio or doesn't have one near by, I'd recommend the Marlon Braccia yoga series. Very easy to follow, and easy to learn.

Im really glad this thread was posted...i JUST had an argument with a friend -he thought (per someone else's opinion) that yoga was more difficult and i argued pilates was. Well...for me i am not flexible at all, and kind of out of shape. My (few) experiences with pilates was "ouch i cant bend that way" and "my leg is tired after lift #2!" While my experience with yoga was that is was very muscle relaxing and not very strenuous. I know it probably depends on the person, workout, and instructor...but i was really interested in answers from people who had personal experiences like me. Great threat!

Pilates is a workout. While you do get physical benefits from yoga, the purpose is to prepare your mind and body for meditation. The asanas are designed to enhance energy flow in the body. Yoga transformed my LIFE. Many people (like myself) start out to increase flexibility/strength but soon realize the true benefits. I would never be without it.

Pilates is a workout. While you do get physical benefits from yoga, the purpose is to prepare your mind and body for meditation. The asanas are designed to enhance energy flow in the body. Yoga transformed my LIFE. Many people (like myself) start out to increase flexibility/strength but soon realize the true benefits. I would never be without it.

I've read this all over the Internet and it is generally true, but I feel I am doing a full-body workout irregardless of which I do. I am sore these days all the time, though more so in my abs when I do Pilates.

If I had to choose between the two it's hard to say which I like better..... possibly yoga.

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